The 7 LGBTI artists who made Eurovsion what it is today

Undoubtedly the biggest success of recent times was the 2014 winner Conchita Wurst of Austria.

Against a backdrop of vicious verbal attacks from several East European countries, Conchita stormed to victory in Copenhagen receiving maximum points from 13 countries and even points from voters in Russia, Albania and Azerbaijan.

Conchita is the alter-ego of Tom Neuwirth and tried to represent Austria in 2013 with her anthem That’s What I am.

Since winning Eurovision she has performed at many prides around the globe, spoken at the European Parliament and also at the United Nations spreading her message from the LGBTI community that, in her own words, ‘we are unstoppable’.

2 DANA INTERNATIONAL

One of the word’s most famous trans women, Dana International, born Yaron Cohen, won the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1998 with her global smash Diva.

Dana underwent reassignment surgery in 1993 and first tried to complete her ambition of singing for Israel at Eurovision in 1995 but came second in the pre-selection qualifying. She realized her dream three years later when being selected for her country despite strong objections from Orthodox Jews, and she stormed to victory.

Dana International co-wrote 9th placed song The Fire In Your Eyes at Eurovision 2008 and then attempted to relive her glorious victory in 2011 when again representing Israel at Eurovision in Germany but did not make it to the final becoming the first returning winner to fail to make it past the semi-finals.

She continues to be a successful recording artist both at home and abroad and is an ambassador for LGBTI rights.

4MARIJA SERIFOVIC

Serbia first entered Eurovision in 2007 as an independent nation and chose Marija Serifovic with Molitva (Prayer) as their debut song beating Ukranian drag act Verka Serduchka into second place.

She was treated to a heroes welcome on her return to Belgrade, but it was the following year when opening the 2008 show that there was contention as it appeared she was getting married to another woman on stage.

Marija finally came out as a lesbian in a 2013 TV documentary and is involved in Serbian politics, frequently calling for a more tolerant attitude to the LGBTI community of Serbia.

5 DQ

DQ (real name Peter Andersen) was one of the most flamboyant characters of Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki. Appearing on stage for Denmark in a garish pink dress and feathers, he was the first solo drag act in Eurovision history.

Although the song Drama Queen failed to make it through to the final, the disco track remains a gay favorite on the dance floor.